The Fetish Carvers of Zuni

by Marian E. Rodee, James Ostler

Zuni pueblo in western New Mexico is renowned for its small carved stone animal figurines, or fetishes. A fetish is an object, natural or manmade, in which a spirit is thought to reside and which can be used to effect either good or evil. According to legend, when a man finds a rock that resembles an animal, he has in his possession one of the original animals turned to stone by the children of the Sun Father. Such a fetish has the soul or breath of the animal inside. In recent years the market demand for fetishes from Zuni has spurred an increase in the number of carvers. Published in 1995 and now available from UNM Press, The Fetish Carvers of Zuni studies both the history of fetishes and Zuni's major contemporary fetish carvers, their art, aesthetics, and business.

112 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1995

Reviews

[Michael Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging description of the mostly stone carvings of Zuni animal spirits. Delightful history of the carving making and sales, highlighted by profiles of fetish making families and their styles. I really enjoyed this little book.